Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Poliltical intrigue on the prairies

I'm impressed with our provincial premier. He isn't much to look at, but I've heard him speak on a number of occasions, often to a hostile crowd. He is charismatic, eloquent, polite and won't back down from hecklers or having to explain tough choices. You get the impression he just tries to do what he feels is best for a province that doesn't have a lot of people, but has many problems. Although I support the NDP in the province, I haven't agreed with everything he's done, but after the previous week, I definitely think he's a cool guy.
Why?
Weeeeeell...before the yearly budget the Federal government promised Saskatchewan a 800,000 transfer payment every year for 5 years...in writing...so we believed them. Now, after the yearly budget we were informed that we only get a one time payment of 400,000 and NOTHING ELSE. Why? Well the government stated that they never promised to pay us the transfer payments (they did...in writing and in Parliament) and that they're honoring the spirit of the deal by giving us something (a hearty wtf?). They've done the same thing to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. A conservative MP from Newfoundland has resigned and gone independent over this. It's a big deal that the federal government is trying to force through.
The promise was a bold faced lie and our government is trying to back out of a deal to provinces that have earned this money through their output of non-renewable natural resources and changing the terms of agreement to only involve renewable resources. This is no small splitting of hairs...Long term budgets were built on these promises. Leaders and provinces were lied to and we were truly screwed over. ..and apparently our bonehead of a Prime Minister feels that he can make these changes arbitrarily and that we, as voters and citizens will just shut our pieholes and watch Canadian Idol and drink beer and it will go away.
AND, oddly enough, it appears that our province is going to take the government to court over this. They are not trying to bully the government, but Mr. Calvert wants to hold the government accountable for this. Even if we don't get the payments returned to us, I believe this is a huge move in making public figures, particularly elected officials, accountable for what they say and promise to us little peoples. Sometimes things change and we need to suck it up, but to lie, change a deal, deny promises were made and withhold funding promised to a province that they have earned by being productive and contributory to this great country of ours is wrong. Running a country is not like big business...there's more to it and they must be held accountable to not make promises not indended to be kept.
I for one may send Mr. Calvert a cake in the mail. With edible ball bearings and everything.

1 comment:

Magnus said...

I wish your premier was our premier.

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